Sealed switch device



Oct. 14, 1969 B. SATKUNAS ET AL SEALED SWITCH DEVICE Original Filed Oct. 26, v 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet '1 INVENTORS. BEL/NO SATKUMAJ BY MeeLs E. LYONS W l W I M v 7F...

A Tram/5Y5 Oct. 14, 1969 SATKUNAS ET AL 3,472,983

' SEALED SWITCH DEVICE Original Filed 06*). 26, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS Sew/o sm'zuws BY Meme 6 bro/-15 WM? I TV", M Wit-d.

ATTOQNEYS,

United States Patent US. Cl. 200-157 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A switch for an electric unit, the casing of the unit having an opening therethrough and there being electric contacts within the casing to be operated from outside the casing, a plate disposed over the opening on the inside, a switch button operable between alternative positions from outside the casing, and a sealing member covering on the inside of the casing the plate and connected to the casing so as to seal the opening to prevent moisture from entering therethrough into the casing, the sealing member being resiliently flexible to allow the plate to be moved inwardly toward the contacts by operation of the switch button toward one position, the plate moving the sealing member against a contact to cause the contact members to be engaged.

RELATION TO OTHER APPLICATIONS This application is a division of our application Ser. No. 504,500 filed Oct. 24, 1965, now Pat. No. 3,394,277.

Our invention relates to electric switches and the like.

An object of our invention is the provision of an improved switch structure providing a waterproof seal to the switch mechanism of the casing of our driving unit for an electric device or the like.

Another object is the provision of improved means for mounting and sealing the switch to the casing of an electric unit.

Another object is the provision of a unique arrangement and combination of structural parts in such a driving unit for a toothbrush or the like, giving improved results and in a novel and useful manner.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudial sectional view taken through a driving unit embodying the preferred form of our invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the driving unit and looking in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the forward portion of the driving mechanism in our unit shown removed from the casing;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same at a right angle to the view shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken through the line 5--5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken through the line 6,-6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken through the line 7-7 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the switch mechanism embodied in our driving unit;

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view of the switch mech- 3,472,983 Patented Oct. 14, 1969 anism taken through the line 99 of FIGURE 8 and showing the switch button in an Off position; and

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 9 but showing the switch button in an On' position.

Our driving unit has a casing 11 of molded plastic material of the usual nature and is of electrical insulating material as usually utilized for such appliances. The casingll is of general cylindrical shape and contour as illustrated. It has a nose portion 11A of reduced diameter at its forward end. There is a grooved inner shoulder 11B at its forwardmost end, the groove of the shoulder 11B facing radially inward and axially rearwardly of the easing. On one side of the casing 11 there is an opening 11C in which is mounted a switch box 35.

The rearward end of the casing 11 is closed by a base cover 12 also of similar molded plastic material. This base cover 12 has a central recessed portion 12A extending inwardly and axially of the casing as illustrated. The cover 12 has an outer cylindrical wall 12B which tightly fits within the rearward end of the casing 11. Between the cover 12 and the rearward portion of casing 11 there are sealing rings 52 and 53, as shown, which seal off moisture from the interior of the casing.

Positioned within the nose portion 11A and axially thereof is a guide portion 13 which accommodates an arm member 16 which is adapted to carry a toothbrush or the like on its outer free end, the toothbrush not being shown. The toothbrush is connected by a coupling portion 16A at the free end of the arm member 16.

Formed in the arm member 16 in proximity to the forward end of the guide portion 13 there is an annular groove 16B. Adjacent one side of the groove 16B is an annular shoulder 16E directed forwardly of the arm member. On the front end face of the guide portion 13 there is an annular groove 13E directed forwardly. As shown in the drawings, there is a rubber sealing member 28 which sealingly connects the guide portion 13 and the arm member 16 at the forward end of the guide portion 13. The rubber sealing member has a beaded inner edge 28A which snugly engages in the groove 16B. The sealing member 28 also has a beaded outer edge 28B which sealingly engages in the groove 13E. Within the annular outer beaded edge 28B there is imbedded a wire ring 29 which gives strength and rigidity to the sealing member 28 and aids in preventing it from collapsing. The sealing member 28 between the inner beaded edge 28A and outer beaded edge 28B is folded back upon itself as illustrated. The sealing member is resiliently yieldable So that it assumes the shape illustrated in its normal position when the arm member 16 is axial of the guide portion 13. However, the resiliency of the sealing member 28 is such that the arm member may reciprocate between limits and may also rock or tilt about the axis of the guide portion 13, sealing thus being maintained for the space 14 between the guide portion 13 and the arm member 16 so as to prevent liquid or other matter from entering the bore of the guide portion 13.

Disposed on diametrically opposite sides of the inner bore of the guide portion 13 .are two longitudinally extending grooves 13A which accommodate in each a steel ball 15. These balls 15 are carried in two diametrically opposed sockets formed in the wall of the arm member 16. The balls 15 provide a pivot for the rocking of the arm member and also the balls in riding or moving along the respective grooves 13A guide forward and rearward movement of the arm member. Thus, the arm member may move both forwardly and rearwardly in the guide portion 13 and also may rock or tilt relative to the axis of the guide portion 13. To provide for the rocking or tilting of the arm member 16, the forward portion of the bore of the guide portion 13 has a frusto-conical wall 13B.

Positioned within the casing 11 at a location rearwardly of the guide portion 13 and in axial alignment therewith is an electric motor 17. This motor has a bell cap portion 18 integrally formed on the forward end thereof. This bell cap portion 18 has two forwardly directed parallel brackets 19 and 20 extending forwardly therefrom. The bracket 19 has an opening 19A therethrough and the bracket 20 has an opening 20A therethrough, the openings 19A and 20A being in axial alignment. Extending through the aligned openings 19A and 20A is a shaft 23. This shaft 23 has threaded head 23A threadably engaged in the opening 19A so as to hold the shaft 23 in a position which is normal to intersecting the axis of the driving unit. Journaled upon the shaft 23 so as to rotate thereon is a ring gear 22 having its teeth directed inwardly toward the axis of the unit. The ring gear 22 is enmeshed with a pinion :gear 26 which is non-rotatably mounted on the motor shaft 27 driven by the motor 17. Thus the motor rotates the ring gear 22.

The rearward end portion of the arm member 16 is widened to form the broad rear portion 16C. Formed within the broad rear portion 160 at the axis of the arm member 16 there is a recess 16D. Positioned within this recess 16D there is an eccentric stud portion 22A. The outer cylindrical surface of portion 22A is eccentric relative to the axis of the shaft 23. Therefore as portion 22A rotates with the ring gear 22, the rearward broad portion 16C of the arm member 16 is moved in a circular path about the axis of the shaft 23.

Also carried by and extending outwardly from the bell cap portion 18 are two lugs 21 on diametrically opposite sides. These lugs 21 are disposed 90 out of phase with the brackets 19 and 20. Extending rearwardly from the forward face of each lug 21 there is a recess 21A. At the rearward end of the guide portion 13 there is a rear flange portion 13C and this flange portion 13C has two lugs 13D directed rearwardly therefrom. These lugs 13D are in alignment with the lugs 21 of the bell cap portion 18.

Embedded in each lug 13D is a knurled head 24A of a guide pin 24. These guide pins 24 are disposed parallel to each other and on opposite sides of the axis of the guide portion 13. The rearward end of each guide pin 24 is positioned within a recess 21A of a l-ug 21. Thus the pins 24 extend between the guide portion 13 and the lugs 21 and are held in parallel fixed position.

Formed in the opposite sides of the broad rear portion 16C are parallel grooves or slots 16F. These grooves or slots 16F face away from each other and have a depth greater than the diameter of a guide pin 24. The width of each groove or slot 16F is slightly greater than the diameter of a guide pin 24. These guide pins 24 are positioned within the respective slots 16F and permit the broad rear portion 16C to move forwardly and rearwardly and simultaneously to move in a circular path. Thus the guide pins 24 allow the arm member to move in a recurrent path in a single plane but maintain the position of the arm member in that single plane of its movement. By this arrangement, it is not necessary for the arm member to be pressed downwardly toward the ring gear 22. The usual sliding or ball bearing on the side of the arm member opposite the ring gear 22 is obviated by the use of the guide pins 24 as described.

The guide portion 13 is held firmly to the brackets 19 and 20 by means of screws 25 which extend through flange portion 13C and the end of the brackets 19 and 20. Thus the motor and guide portion with parts carried thereby are held in the position illustrated.

The bracket 20 also carries the elements of the switch mechanism utilized for controlling the energization of the motor 17. An electric terminal 31 is riveted to the bracket 20. The bracket 20, being of metal (as are the outer casing of motor 17, the bell cap portion 18, the bracket 19 and the lugs 21), may be grounded by a wire 30 whereby the terminal 31 carries the current on one side of the electrical circuit connected to the motor. Also riveted to the bracket 20 at a spaced location in alignment with the terminal 31 is another electrical terminal 32. This terminal 32 is insulated from the bracket 20 by an insulating sleeve 33. This terminal 32 connected to a wire 34 also is in electrical circuit with the motor 17. The terminal 32 has an outwardly directed face providing the contact of a switch arrangement. Connected to the terminal 31 there is a spring electrical contact element 31A which when pressed downwardly upon the terminal 32 completes a circuit between the terminals 31 and 32 so as to energize the motor. The spring bias of the electrical contact element 31A is such that it is biased away from the terminal 32 as illustrated in FIGURE 4.

Positioned within the opening formed in the wall of casing 11 is the switch box 35, which is of general rectangular shape as shown in FIGURE 8. This switch box 35, also of molded plastic insulating material, has on opposite ends projection portions 35A which are sufliciently yieldably flexible as to engage in oppositely disposed niches in the wall of the opening 11C. Upon pressing the switch box downwardly, the projections 35A flex sufliciently to enter the opening 11C and then to engage in these opposite niches and thus secure the switch box firmly in position. Extending through the switch box 35 is an opening 35B defined by walls 350 protruding inwardly of the casing 11. The lower end of the wall 35C has a beaded end 35D formed therearound. The beaded end 35D is directed outwardly and extends around the periphery of the wall 35C. Extending across the lower ends of the walls 35C so as to close the opening 35B is a plate 36. This plate 36 when in the position shown in FIGURE 9 is up against the bottom edge of the wall 35C.

Carried by the lower end of the wall 35C and particularly by the beaded end 35D is a rubber sealing diaphragm 37 having a shape complementary to the lower end of the wall 35C and the plate 36. This rubber sealing diaphragm 37 has upturned walls terminating in a bead 37A extending around its upper edge. This beaded portion 37A snugly engages over the beaded end 35D. The snug fit of the diaphragm 37 about the wall 35C is such as to firmly hold the diaphragm 37 upon the beaded end 35D. This, in turn, firmly holds the plate 36 upwardly against the lower end of the wall 35C. The diaphragm 37 is sufiiciently resiliently yieldable that it may be distorted and pressed downwardly while its beaded edge 37A is still firmly held in engagement with the wall 35C and about the beaded end 35D.

Pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 39 extending across between, and carried by, opposite sides of the switch box 35 is a switch button 38. This axis of the pivot pin 39 is such that the button 38 may be swung thereon in a plane parallel to the axis of the casing 11. Extending across the opening 35B of the switch box 35, and carried by wall 35C, is a stop bar 40 which is positioned to provide a limit to rearward swinging of the button 38. The button 38 has a dwell or recess 38A adapted to engage the Stop bar 40 when the button 38 is swung rearwardly to its Off position, which is the position shown in FIGURE 9. The button 38 has an alternate dwell or recess 38B forwardly and adjacent the dwell 38A which receives the stop bar 40 when the button is swung to the On position illustrated in FIGURE 10.

Extending downwardly from the button 38 is a rounded nose portion 38C which is adapted to engage the top of the plate 36 and to cammingly force it downwardly upon swinging of the button 38 from its Off position shown in FIGURE 9 to its On position shown in FIGURE 10. Upon swinging of the button 38 again to its 01f position, then the nose portion 38C releases the plate 36 to permit it to assume its position shown in FIGURE 9. It

is to be noted that the rubber diaphragm 37 provides a resilient bias urging the plate 36 upwardly to the position shown in FIGURE 9. However, the resilient bias of the diaphragm 37 is suchthat the plate 36 may be moved downwardly to the position shown in FIGURE but at the same time a good sealing engagement is retained with the beaded end 35D of the wall 350. Thus a Waterproof seal is maintained through the switch mechanism at all times and the switch may be freely operated without water or other matter entering the casing through the opening 35B of the switch box 35.

As the electrical spring contact element 31A is positioned below the diaphragm 37, it is moved downwardly from its position shown in FIGURE 9 and into electrical contact with the terminal 32 in the position shown in FIGURE 10 when the button 38 is moved to the On position. Thus the switch elements are engaged and disengaged by the operation of the button 38 between its alternate positions.

The motor 17 is also in electrical circuit with a battery 43 whereby the battery 43 energizes the motor 17. This battery 43 is secured by a top cap 42 clamped thereon to the motor 17, the cap 42 being secured to the motor 17 by a screw 44. It is noted that the battery 43 is thus firmly held to and in axial alignment with the motor 17. The wire 34 in electrical circuit with the motor 17 is also electrically connected with the battery 43 and a rectifier 45 is connected in circuit by means of the wire 34.

Connected in circuit with the battery 43 is an induction coil 47, which induction coil is mounted upon a spool 48 of ferrous metal. Clamped on the rearward end of the battery 43 is a cup-shaped bottom cap 46. This cap 46 is secured to and firmly held in a cupped flange 49A of a bracket holder 49. The bracket holder 49 has a cylindrical portion extending from the cupped portion 49A to within the spool 48 and around the central recessed portion 12A of the base cover 12. Thus the induction coil 47 is firmly held on the spool 48 which in turn is snugly engaged on the bracket 49 which in turn snugly fits over the central recessed portion 12A. The induction coil 47 is therefore firmly held to and in axial alignment with the battery 43.

Snugly interposed between and in engagement with the end of the spool 48 and the cupped flange 49A is a flat portion 50A of an induction ring 50 of ferrous material. This induction ring 50 has the flat portion 50A thereof disposed normal to the axis of the ring and the outer cylindrical portion of the ring 50 disposed parallel to the axis of the ring. It is to be noted that the outer cylindrical portion of the ring 50 is in close proximity to the wall of the casing 11 and extends radially outward as far as possible and yet within the confines of the casing. The cylindrical portion of the ring 50 is spaced substantially radially outward from the battery 43 and cap 46 mounted on the bottom thereof. This induction ring 50 of ferrous material is thus in a good and efficient position for receiving charging flux provided by a charging unit having a coil within which the lower end of the casing 11, holding the induction coil 47, is positioned for the purpose of charging the battery 43 by the process of induction charging. An improved charging operation is obtained by the arrangement and disposition of the parts shown and illustrated.

To firmly hold the internal parts snugly within the easing and to absorb any shock, there is a rubber spring-like spacing washer 51 interposed between the rearward end of the spool 48 and the base cover 12.

The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electric toothbrush driving unit having an electric motor mounted in a casing, and a pair of electrical contact elements mounted in said casing in circuit arrangement with said motor for controlling energization of the same, one of said contact elements being springbiased out of engagement with the other contact element and disposed to engage the other contact element upon pressing of said one contact element in opposition to the bias thereof toward said other contact element, the improvement of wall means defining an opening through said casing in proximity to said contact elements, a switch button pivotally carried by said casing at said opening, said switch button being pivotally swingable between Off and On positions, a plate member positioned at said opening inwardly of the casing from said switch button and movable relative to said wall means, a resilient waterproof sealing member positioned inwardly of said plate member for yieldably retaining said plate member against said wall means, said sealing member sealingly engaging said wall means for preventing leakage of liquid through said opening, said sealing member resiliently yielding upon movement of said plate member away from said wall means, said switch button having a nose portion disposed to engage and move said plate member away from said wall means upon swinging of the switch button to On position and to permit the plate memher to move toward the wall means upon moving the switch button to Oif position, the resiliency of said sealing member resiliently urging said plate member toward said wall means, and away from said one contact element, said sealing member upon being pressed away from said wall means by said plate member being disposed to engage said one contact element and to move the same toward and into engagement with said other contact element.

2. The improvement claimed in claim. 1 and in which said wall means has an outwardly directed bead extending therearound and said sealing member around the periphery thereof has a bead extending therearound and complementarily interengaging with the head of the wall means to hold the sealing member to said wall means.

3. In an electric appliance having an electric motor mounted in a casing and an electric switch in said casing for controlling the energization of the motor, the improvement of an actuating button carried by the casing and movable from the exterior of the casing between Off and On positions, said casing having an opening extending therethrough in proximity to said switch, a plate member disposed inwardly of the casing and across said opening, a diaphragm of resilient rubber-like material sealingly engaged around the periphery thereof to said casing around said opening to close the same, said plate member being disposed between said diaphragm and said casing to be resiliently urged against the casing and across said opening, said plate member being engageable by said button to be pressed inwardly away from said opening upon movement of the button to On position and being resiliently returned toward said casing at said opening by said diaphragm upon movement of the button to Off position, said plate member upon being pressed inwardly pressing said diaphragm in opposition to the resilient bias thereof inwardly to engage and operate said electric switch, the resiliency of said diaphragm causing the same to move away from the electric switch and to move said plate member toward said casing and to said opening upon movement of the button to Off position, said diaphragm maintaining sealing engagement with the casing during said movements toward and away from said electric switch.

4. The improvement as claimed in claim 3 and in which there is a wall carried by said casing and extending inwardly thereof around said opening, the wall having a 7 bead extending therearound and directed outwardly of the opening, and in which said diaphragm has an edge portion formed to engage about said bead and to resiliently interlock therewith for retaining the diaphragm on the wall in good sealing engagement therewith for maintaining a sealed closure of said opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,457,153 12/1948 Hubbell. 3,222,467 12/1965 Meyer.

8 FOREIGN PATENTS 5/1960 France.

7/1957 Italy. 1/ 1960 France.

US. Cl. X.R. 

